2003 BMW 325I Electrical Problems

On June 28,2024, after parking and turning off the ignition switch, the dash started smoking and within minutes the whole dash and front of car were on fire. The car almost completely burned to the ground before the fire department could get there. The car was recently serviced at a BMW for an air bag recall. Heater ducts were loose when returned. There are also recalls for the 2006 325i for similar dash fires. The cause could be either dealer work or a factory issue.

NHTSA ID

11598027

Incident

Jun 28, 2024

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 BMW 325I. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE ARSONIST INVESTIGATOR FILED A REPORT AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11395920

Incident

Feb 12, 2021

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY REAR WINDOW AND THE ROOFTOP DONT WORK I CAN HEAR THE MOTORS BUT NOTHING HAPPENS A TECHNICIAN EXPLAIN THAT THE REGULATOR AND LINES ARE BROKEN ITS A COMMON THING ON MY MODEL HE SPECIFIED.

NHTSA ID

11229396

Incident

Nov 27, 2018

BOTH BACK WINDOWS ON MY 2003 BMW 325I WILL NOT GO UP. GARAGE SAYS BOTH REGULATORS AND ACTUATORS MUST BE REPLACED. RESEARCHING THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE ON THIS MODEL AND IT IS CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

11221563

Incident

Jun 14, 2019

Mileage

174,000 mi

STALLING, ELECTRICAL ISSUES, DEAD BATTERIES, SWERVING

NHTSA ID

11072105

Incident

Aug 10, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

REMOTE UNLOCKING/LOCKING WILL NOT FUNCTION. DOORS CAN NOT BE OPENED OR UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE VEHICLE WITH CENTRAL LOCK SWITCH OR WITH DOOR HANDLE, TRAPPING PASSENGERS INSIDE. THE DRIVERS WINDOW MUST BE ROLLED DOWN AND KEY USED TO UNLOCK DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO EXIT VEHICLE. CLIMBING OUT OF WINDOWS OR CLIMBING TO DRIVERS SEAT IS THE ONLY WAY OUT OF CAR, BMW STATES "NOT A SAFETY ISSUE". *TR

NHTSA ID

10626613

Incident

Aug 14, 2014

Mileage

38,125 mi

THE CAR DOORS AT TIMES DO NOT UNLOCK. IT IS VERY INTERMITTENT. A KEY CAN BE USED TO OPEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR BUT A COUPLE OF TIMES EVEN THE DOOR KEY HAS NOT WORKED. THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUE IS THAT I HAVE BEEN LOCKED INSIDE THE CAR AND UNABLE TO OPEN ANY OF THE DOORS, INCLUDING THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WITH THE MAIN LOCK CONTROL OR EVEN BY TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I HAVE HAD TO HAVE PASSENGERS CRAWL OUT OF THE WINDOW TO EXIT THE CAR A FEW TIMES. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE KEY WORKS TO GET IN BUT I CANNOT GET THE OTHER DOORS OPEN EVEN BY ATTEMPTING TO USE THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. THIS IS A SCARY SITUATION TO BE IN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10555381

Incident

Aug 27, 2009

Mileage

30,000 mi

THE DISPLAY THAT SHOWS THE ODOMETER, TEMPERATURE, TRIP METER, ETC. STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. A PIXEL OR TWO WILL SHOW UP, BUT NO LEGIBLE INFORMATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551393

Incident

Nov 5, 2013

Mileage

140,000 mi

MY VEHICLE HAS THE SAME INCIDENT ABOUT A DOZEN OF TIMES IN THE LAST 4-5 YEARS. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, AND BRAKE LIGHT ON, ENGINEER STARTED TO KNOCKING, SPEED FORCED DOWN TO LESS THAN 30 MPH WITHIN IN SECONDS. IT WAS QUITE SCARING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY WITH SPEED AT ~50-70 MPG. MY DEALER HAS MADE SEVERAL REPAIRS, CHANGING EVERYTHING IN THIS SPEED CONTROLLING SYSTEM MULTIPLE TIMES ACCORDING TO THE BOOK, INCLUDING THROTTLE BODY TWICE, ELECTRIC HARNESS THREE TIMES, AND CONTROL COMPUTER UNIT ONCE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS. OCCASIONALLY, RESETTING THE SYSTEM AND/OR RESTARTING THE CAR, AND SOMETIMES RECONNECTING EVERY PARTS OF THE SYSTEM CAN AVOID THE PROBLEM FOR A WHILE (FROM A DAYS TO 1-2 YEARS). ALTHOUGH IT IS UNPREDICTABLE IN WHEN, IT WOULD COME BACK. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO COME MORE OFTEN WHEN THE WEATHER BECOME MORE WET. THIS MIMICS THE BEHAVIOR OF THE POOR ELECTRIC CONNECTIONS CONTROLLING THE TAILS AND TURNING LIGHTS OF THE SAME MODEL, WHICH WAS RECALLED BY BMW A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. IT SEEMS THAT THE SAME ELECTRIC CONNECTORS ARE USED IN THIS SPEED CONTROLLING SYSTEM. OBVIOUSLY, THIS PROBLEM IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE SIGNALING LIGHT ISSUE SINCE IT IS MORE LIKELY TO LEAD TO SEVERE ACCIDENTS/CRASHES IN THE HIGHWAY; I MIGHT BE DEAD OR SEVERELY INJURED IF I DID NOT RESPONDED QUICKLY ENOUGH WHEN WAS IN I-95 FOR EXAMPLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10497625

Incident

Feb 2, 2013

Mileage

103,000 mi

THE WARNING LIGHT FOR MY PASSENGER SIDE TAIL LIGHT HAS BEEN GOING ON AND OFF FOR MONTHS AS IF THERE IS A SHORT IN IT. IT STAYED ON PERMANENTLY THIS MONTH, SHOWING A DIMMER LIGHT THAN THE WORKING SIDE TAIL LIGHT, SO I HAD IT CHECKED WHEN I HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT MY BMW MECHANIC. HE INFORMED ME THERE WAS A RECALL FOR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES FOR MY VEHICLE AND TOLD ME TO CALL THE DEALER TO CHECK THE VIN NUMBER. I CALLED THE DEALER LAST FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 2012 AND WAS INFORMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS PART OF THE RECALL AND THAT SOMEONE WOULD CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE WORK. NO ONE CALLED, SO I CALLED AGAIN TODAY AND THEY SAID THE VIN WAS NOT PART OF THE OPEN RECALL. THE TAIL LIGHT IS ACTING LIKE THE OTHER TAIL LIGHTS THAT WERE RECALLED SO I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IT CANNOT BE PART OF THE RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463612

Incident

Jun 12, 2012

Mileage

122,426 mi

MULTIPLE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH DOOR LOCKS FAILING TO OPEN EITHER BY KEY FOB, DEPRESSING BUTTON INSIDE CAR, OR BY PULLING INSIDE DOOR HANDLE. TO EXIT CAR, MUST LOWER WINDOWS AND INSERT KEY INTO OUTSIDE KEYHOLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD! PROBLEM ARISES WITH NO APPARENT CAUSE, THEN WILL DISAPPEAR A FEW DAYS LATER WITH FOR NO APPARENT REASON. BMW REPLACED ACTUATOR (?) AND THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE DISAPPEARED, BUT IT COST ME $1400. OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEM IS WITH AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMING ON AFTER CAR SITS UNDRIVEN FOR MORE THAN A COUPLE OF DAYS. WAS TOLD THAT AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK WITH LIGHT ON. NO REASON FOUND. BATTERY CHECKS OUT FULLY CHARGED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10444711

Incident

Mar 2, 2010

Mileage

101,000 mi

MY 2003 BMW 325I WILL NOT UNLOCK. I CANT GET INTO THE CAR. I HAVE TRIED THE KEY AND THE FOB AND THE DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK. I HAD TO BREAK THE WINDOW TO GET INTO THE CAR ONLY TO FIND OUT THE DOORS STILL WILL NOT UNLOCK. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE YOU CANT UNLOCK THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. THIS IS EXTREMELY CONCERNING AND A TRUE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439295

Incident

Dec 10, 2011

Mileage

114,000 mi

DOORS WILL NOT OPEN BECAUSE DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT UNLOCK. KEY FOB BUTTON WILL NOT UNLOCK ANY DOORS 90% OF THE TIME. MOST OF THE TIME I CAN ONLY GET IN CAR ON DRIVERS SIDE WITH MANUAL OPERATION OF DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK (STICKING KEY IN LOCK AND TURNING). ONCE IN CAR, 90% OF TIME I STILL CANNOT UNLOCK ANY OTHER DOORS, EVEN BY PULLING ON DOOR HANDLE (WHICH WOULD ORDINARILY UNLOCK THE DOOR). THE INTERIOR BUTTON TO UNLOCK THE DOORS WILL NOT WORK. ON FRIDAY, 12/9/11, I COULD NOT EVEN GET OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION. (CAR IS SET TO AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE ALL LOCKS ONCE I START DRIVING) I HAD TO ROLL WINDOW DOWN AND REACH OUT AND UNLOCK DOOR WITH KEY. WHEN MY SON AND DAUGHTER DRIVE WITH ME, THEY HAVE TO GET IN AND OUT OF CAR EITHER BY CRAWLING ACROSS DRIVER'S SEAT OR GO THROUGH A WINDOW OPENING. MY WIFE CANNOT RIDE IN THIS CAR NOW BECAUSE SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT. DUE TO THIS DEFECT, PASSENGERS ARE TRAPPED IN CAR. ALSO, ENTRY INTO VEHICLE IS DELAYED (BECAUSE FOB WILL NOT UNLOCK DOORS) WHICH ALSO POSES SAFETY RISKS WHEN PARKED AT NIGHT IN DOWNTOWN PARKING GARAGES. THERE ARE FIVE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON NHTSA WEBSITE ON THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. RECALL SHOULD BE INITIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10439291

Incident

Nov 26, 2010

Mileage

59,000 mi

RIGHT TAILLAMP FAILURE AND LEFT TAILLAMP INTERMITTENT OPERATION. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPAIR: RIGHT REAR TAILLAMP CONNECTOR AND BULB CARRIER CORRODED. DEALER REPLACED PIGTAIL HARNESS AND BULB CARRIER WITH UPDATED DESIGN: SOCKET HOUSING, TERMINAL, CONTACT, CABLE CONNECTOR, HOSE, INSULATION HOUSING, FLAT CONTACT, CABLE SOCKET AND BULB SOCKET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10438169

Incident

Jul 3, 2010

Mileage

75,172 mi

XENON LIGHTS WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER THE 50,000 MARK. SHORTLY AFTER CAR KEPT GOING INTO FAIL SAFE MODE, KEPT GETTING LOW VOLTAGE READINGS ON DIAGNOSTICS. ONE BMW DEALERS KEPT TELLING ME I NEEDED TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION. ALL THEY WOULD DO IS PLUG THE CAR INTO THE COMPUTER AND SEE THE TRANNY READING ON THE SCANNER. THE REASON THERE WAS A TRANNY READING WAS BECAUSE THE CAR WAS IN FAIL SAFE MODE. I EVENTUALLY HAD THE TRANNY REBUILT AND I STILL HAD THE SAME ISSUE. I WOULD CYCLE THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR AND CAR WOULD DRIVE FINE. IT KEEPS GOING INTO FAIL SAFE MODE EVERYTIME I START THE CAR. ITS HARDER TO GET IT OUT OF FAIL SAFE MODE IN THE WINTER WITH COLDER STARTS. *TT

NHTSA ID

10425820

Incident

Nov 15, 2006

Mileage

49,000 mi

GROUND WIRE ON REAR LIGHT WIRING HARNESS HAS BURNT THROUGH DAMAGING PLUG AND SOCKET. POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. UPDATED 09/07/11 *BF *TR

NHTSA ID

10405650

Incident

Apr 20, 2011

Mileage

118,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY 2003 BMW 325I NEW. SHORTLY AFTER THE SALE I NOTICED THE FRONT DRIVERS XENON LIGHT WOULD GO OUT. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE LIGHT BACK ON, IS TO TURN OFF THE CAR AND RESTART THE ENGINE. THIS WORKS ABOUT 80 PERCENT OF THE TIME. ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING IS A FALSE INDICATION THAT MY TAILLIGHTS ARE OUT. THIS IS VERY SPORRATIC AND ANNOYING. A THIRD ISSUE I AM EXPERIENCING IS VERY DANGEROUS RELATING TO MY DRIVERS SEATBELT. THE SEATBELT MAY SEAM LOCKED, BUT IF YOU PULL WITH A BIT OF FORCE, THE SEATBELT WILL COME OUT OF THE LOCKED POSITION.

NHTSA ID

10383700

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

Mileage

15,000 mi

GOT A WARNING FROM POLICE ABOUT DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT BEING OUT. TOOK IT TO REPAIR SHOP TO BE REPAIRED. BULB REPLACED. IN LESS THAN 12 HOURS THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO REPAIR SHOP THEY PULLED THE LIGHT PANEL OUT LIGHTS CAME ON. I DROVE OFF AND THE INSIDE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS TOLD BY THE REPAIR SHOP THAT IF THE LIGHT WENT OUT AGAIN IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND THE PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10373595

Incident

Dec 30, 2010

Mileage

115,232 mi

OUR 2003 BMW 325I HAS HAD REPEATED STALLING EVENTS OCCURRING AT INCREASING FREQUENCY. WHILE IDLING AT STOP LIGHTS OR AT HIGHWAY SPEED WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD (EML, HAZARD AND BRAKE) LIGHT AND THE ENGINE LOSES POWER, AND RPM'S DROP. AFTER THE FIRST OCCURRENCE, THE BMW WAS TAKEN TO ADVANTAGE MIDTOWN BMW IN HOUSTON, TX FOR DIAGNOSIS/REPAIR. BMW REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROLLER WHICH THEY SAID WAS DEFECTIVE. 1-2 MONTHS LATER THE PROBLEM BEGAN OCCURRING AGAIN WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY. THE CAR STALLED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS/SYMPTOMS. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ADVANTAGE BMW AND LEFT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. INITIALLY THE SERVICE STAFF AT ADVANTAGE BMW TOLD US THAT THE COMPUTER HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND WAS UNDER WARRANTY. HOWEVER, AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE BMW CORPORATE OFFICE, ADVANTAGE BMW DID NOT REPLACE THE COMPUTER INSTEAD STATING THE THAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE DUE TO LOW VOLTAGE IN THE SYSTEM. I ASKED THEM WHAT WOULD CAUSE THIS SINCE I DID NOT WANT TO DRIVE THE CAR WHEN IT INTERMITTENTLY COULD STALL. ADVANTAGE KEPT THE CAR A FEW MORE DAYS AND THEN RETURNED IT TO US WITH THE EXPLANATION THAT THE LOW VOLTAGE WAS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT CHARGE ON THE BATTERY. I WAS ADVISED TO PURCHASE A FLOAT CHARGER. SINCE THEN THE CAR HAS BEEN KEPT FULLY CHARGED VIA A CTEK FLOAT CHARGER. HOWEVER LAST WEEKEND THE ENGINE STALLED REPEATEDLY WHILE MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 10 AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. THIS FORCED ME TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND DRIVE WITH REDUCED POWER. AFTER STOPPING THE CAR AND RESTARTING, THE ENGINE RESET AND FUNCTIONED AGAIN FOR A WHILE. SINCE THIS TIME THE PROBLEM HAS REPEATED ITSELF 5 TIMES IN 1 WEEK. I FEEL THAT BMW RETURNING THE CAR TO ME IN THE CONDITION WHERE INTERMITTENT STALLING IS OCCURRING IS UNSAFE - I STATED THIS TO ADVANTAGE BMW WHEN I HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE DURING THE SECOND INSTANCE OF THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE SERVICE SCHEDULED AGAIN AT ADVANTAGE BMW FOR AUGUST 14, 2010. *TR

NHTSA ID

10349042

Incident

Aug 7, 2010

Mileage

33,500 mi

I PURCHASED MY BMW 325I IN AUGUST OF 2006. SINCE THAT PURCHASE I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT APPROXIMATELY 9-12 MONTHS COLLECTIVELY. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH 37500 MILES AND NOW HAS 70,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH CAUSES THE LIGHTS TO TURN OFF AND ON WHEN THEY FEEL LIKE IT. THIS CAR HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR THE PAST 9 MONTHS BECAUSE IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION. I HAVE HAD IT TO NUMEROUS BMW DEALERSHIPS, THEY CAN NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. ALL THE ISSUES SEEM TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE AND ARE VERY HARD TO ACCURATELY DIAGNOSE. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I AM CHARGED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR THE CAR BUT CAR IS STILL NOT SAFE. THE REAR LIGHTS HAVE BURNED OUT AND THE RIGHT FRONT LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF AT WILL. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN DEC 2009 WHEN THE CAR LIT UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE (THE ONLY TIME ALL OF THE LIGHTS WORKED.) HOWEVER, WHEN YOU TURN THE CAR ON, THE LIGHTS WENT OFF AGAIN. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE IT REMAINED UNTIL JANUARY 2010. I WAS CHARGED $2700 AND STILL CAN'T GET THIS BEAST INSPECTED. THIS HAS GONE BEYOND THE POINT OF LUDICROUS. I AM COMPLETELY DISGUSTED WITH THE "ULTIMATE DRIVING MACHINE". IN ESSENCE I AM PAYING 650 DOLLARS A MONTH FOR NOTHING. THE LAST MECHANIC THAT LOOKED AT THE CAR RECOMMENDED THAT WE SHOULD REPLACE THE FRONT LIGHTING SYSTEM BECAUSE THE CURRENT SYSTEM THAT IS FAULTY IS NOT MEANT TO BE REPLACED, SO REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. IN THEORY THE LIGHTS SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH MY CAR AND TO REPLACE THE XENON LIGHTS WITH THE MORE COMMON HALOGEN LIGHTS IT WILL COST AN ESTIMATED 2,000 DOLLARS. THIS IS NOT FEASIBLE WITH A CAR PAYMENT AND UNTIL THE CAR IS PAID OFF IN 2012. IT WILL SIT IN THE DRIVEWAY, A WASTE OF A PERFECT CAR, MY RETIREMENT CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343729

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

40,000 mi

WE OWN A BMW 325I SERIES 2003 SEDAN. WHILE MY DAUGHTER STARTED THE CAR SHE NOTED THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CAR. SHE WAS ONLY AROUND 4 BLOCKS AWAY SO PROCEEDED TO DRIVE HOME AND DURING THE DRIVE SHE EXPERIENCED HER BRAKES GRABBING AND STEERING DIFFICULTIES. ALL THE DASHBOARD INDICATOR LIGHTS CAME ON. WE TOOK THE CAR THAT NIGHT TO BMW TO DROP OFF FOR EVALUATION. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE XENON HEADLIGHT FAILED AND TOOK AT THE STEERING SYSTEM PANEL AND HAD TO BE ALL REWIRED. HE SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE. I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN IN THE WIRING OF THE XENON HEADLIGHT TO EFFECT A STEERING PANEL WHEN THE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT. THE EFFECT ON THE STEERING PANEL IS IMMEDIATE AND GIVES NO TIME TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT WITHOUT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR. THE COST TO REPAIR WAS 1800.00. THIS IS VERY CONCERNING. 2 MONTHS LATER THE BLINKER HEADLIGHT NEXT TO THE XENON HEADLIGHT FELL COMPLETELY OUT OF THE CAR HELD BY A WIRE WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT SEEMS LIKE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE BMW 325I SERIES HEADLIGHTS THAT TO ME IS A GREAT SAFETY CONCERN FOR THOSE DRIVING. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR FOLLOW UP TO THE MAKE AND MODEL. I WOULD BE GLAD TO PROVIDE MY NAME FOR YOU TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE SERVICE RECORDS ON THESE EVENTS FROM OUR BMW DEALERSHIP. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341453

Incident

Apr 1, 2010

FAULTY PIN CONNECTORS IN REAR BRAKELIGHT ASSEMBLIES, CAUSING PREMATURE FAILURE OF BRAKE LIGHTING HARNESS, VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10331754

Incident

May 17, 2010

Mileage

99,000 mi

3/26/2010 - OLNEY, MD - 2003 325XI RIGHT AND LEFT REAR LIGHT ASSEMBLY SYSTEM FAILING AT TIMES, (TURN SIGNAL AND BRAKE LIGHT WORKS INTERMITTENLY). BMW ACKNOWLEDGED "GROUND" PROBLEM IN ASSEMLY IN TBS:630306, FEBRUARY 1 2007 LOCAL DEALER IN SILVER SPRING MD, TISHER BMW CORRECT THE PROBLEM ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND COMPLETELY IGNORE MULTIPPLE OFFICE VISIT FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON BOTH SIDES AND REFUSE TO CORRECT PROBLEM ON THE LEFT ASSEMBLY. AT THE SAME TIME BMW CORPORATE OFFICE CUSTOMER SUPORT REFUSED TO OFFER OUT OF WARRANTY FREE REPAIR OR TO INITIATE RECALL ON PREVIOSLY ACKNOWLEDGED "GROUND" PROBLEM. I BELIVE THIS ISSUE IS THE SAFTY HAZARD BECAUSE THE "GROUND" RED WIRE IS BURNING IN THE CONNECTOR OF TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. ALSO PEOPLE AND OTHER DRIVERS CAN'T SEE WHEN YOU "BRAKING"

NHTSA ID

10322321

Incident

Mar 22, 2010

Mileage

136,000 mi

GM5 LOCKING MODULE FOR 2003 BMW E46. ALL FOUR LOCK WOULD NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK ON THE REMOTE OR SWITCH INSIDE THE CAR. I HAD TO EITHER WAIT IN THE HEAT OR COLD OUTSIDE WHILE WAITING FOR THE LOCKING SYSTEM TO RESPOND. IF THERE ARE CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND YOU CANNOT GET TO IN TIME BECAUSE OF THE LOCK/UNLOCK ISSUE, IT CAN BE FATAL FOR OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10307805

Incident

Dec 1, 2009

Mileage

74,000 mi

BMW 325I REAR BLINKERS SHORTED OUT CAUSING ELECTRICAL WIRES TO BURN. WHILE DRIVING MY BMW A WARNING LIGHT ON MY CONSOLE TURNED ON INDICATING THE LEFT REAR BRAKE/BLINKER LIGHT(S) WENT OUT WHILE AT THE SAME TIME I SMELLED WIRING BURNING. I STOPPED THE CAR AND ALL MY LIGHTS SEEMED OK, SO I PRESUMED IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR. A SHORT WHILE LATER WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY I PULLED INTO THE LEFT LANE AND REALLY PISSED THE DRIVER OFF BEHIND ME AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AT THIS MOMENT I NOTICED MY LEFT BLINKER WAS MAKING A FAST NOISE AS THOUGH THE LEFT BLINKER BULB(S) WAS OUT. I PULLED OVER A SECOND TIME TO CHECK MY BLINKERS, FEARING I WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AND ALL MY FLASHERS, BRAKE LIGHTS AND BLINKERS WERE WORKING FINE. THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE CONSOLE WENT ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. I PURCHASED A NEW BULB HOPING THIS WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM, BUT EVERYTHING SEEMED OK AND FUNCTIONAL. WHEN I RETURNED FROM MY TRIP, I WAS TOLD BY TWO EUROPEAN AUTO SHOPS AND THE SERVICE MANAGER OF A BMW DEALERSHIP THAT BMW IS AWARE OF A GROUND PROBLEM WITH THE REAR LIGHT CLUSTER. WHEN I UNSNAPPED THE PLASTIC CONNECTION FROM THE REAR LIGHT CLUSTER, THE METAL PRONGS AND PLASTIC WERE MELTED AWAY. THE HEAT APPARENTLY WAS SO HOT, THE SOLID METAL PRONGS 1/4" LONG COMPLETELY MELTED INCLUDING THE PLASTIC CASING. A BMW DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEE TOLD ME THAT THIS ISSUE IS COMMON WHEN DRIVING IN THE CITY WHEN ONE IS USING THE BRAKES AND BLINKERS INCESSANTLY, PARTICULARLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. "THE GROUNDING WIRE ISN'T HEAVY ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND THE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY REQUIRED BY THE BRAKE AND BLINKER LIGHTS SIMULTANEOUSLY". THIS IS A KNOWN BMW DEFECT AND THIS CAN EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, AS IN MY CASE, NOT TO MENTION A LOT OF DRIVERS REALLY PISSED OFF WHEN I CUT IN FRONT OF THEM THINKING MY BLINKERS ARE WORKING. THIS IS AN ISSUE BMW SHOULD REPAIR! *TR

NHTSA ID

10297773

Incident

Dec 23, 2009

Mileage

61,000 mi